For nearly three decades, Dutch symphonic metal titans Within Temptation have captivated audiences worldwide with their grand, cinematic sound and the powerhouse vocals of frontwoman Sharon den Adel. Yet despite an extensive touring history, Australia has remained uncharted territory for the band – until now.
This year, Within Temptation are set to make their long-awaited debut on Australian soil as part of Knotfest Australia, a lineup stacked with heavyweights like Slipknot, Babymetal, A Day to Remember, and Polaris. In addition to their festival appearances, the band have also announced two headline sideshows, giving Aussie fans an intimate taste of their dramatic and immersive live experience.
Speaking with Rolling Stone AU/NZ ahead of the tour, den Adel expressed her excitement about finally making it Down Under.
“It’s way overdue. I know. That’s what everybody says,” she admits with a laugh. “We’ve always wanted to come, but sometimes it’s difficult to combine things, or we’ve been in the middle of a tour and just too exhausted to take on the extra travel. But this time we thought, why not?”
While Within Temptation’s music has long resonated with Australian fans, den Adel admits she has little idea what to expect from local audiences.
“It’s going to be a complete blank for me,” she says. “I haven’t really heard stories from other bands, so I have no expectations. But maybe that’s the best way to do it – just go in naturally and embrace whatever happens.”
Australia’s love of live music is well-documented, and its metal scene is known for being particularly passionate. Within Temptation’s presence at Knotfest Australia promises an epic experience for fans eager to witness the Dutch band’s spectacle in person – although their usual theatrics will be scaled back due to travel logistics.
A hallmark of Within Temptation’s success has been their ability to translate their grand music into an immersive live experience; from elaborate stage designs to dramatic visuals, their performances feel like something pulled from an epic fantasy film.
“Music is one part of it, of course,” den Adel explains. “In Europe, we have a full stage setup, but in Australia, we won’t be able to bring everything with us. That’s a bummer, but we’ll still create that atmosphere.
“Everything we do on stage – our visuals, our setlist – it’s all meant to bring out the music better and make the experience immersive.”
Playing a festival like Knotfest Australia comes with a unique set of challenges. With a strict 40-minute set time, Within Temptation will need to condense their extensive eight-album catalogue into a powerful, high-impact performance.
“We have to cram in eight albums into 40 minutes somehow,” den Adel laughs. “We’ll try to do the best setlist for everyone, but obviously, we can’t please everyone. The good thing is, with our sideshows, we get to play a longer set and give fans a more diverse experience.”
The band’s sideshows at Brisbane’s Princess Theatre and Melbourne’s Max Watt’s will allow them to delve deeper into their discography, showcasing different eras of their sound.
“We know what works in Europe,” she says. “But that might not be the same for Australia. We’ll go with what we’ve learned from other countries and hope the fans love it.”
As a female vocalist in a genre traditionally dominated by men, den Adel has paved the way for countless other artists. But rather than feeling pressure to conform, she has always embraced what makes her unique.
“I never really realised it at first,” she reflects. “But when we toured with Evanescence, Amy [Lee] said something that really struck me. She said, ‘In Europe, you still embrace your feminine side in metal. A lot of women feel they have to fit in with the guys.’ That was a huge compliment.”
She continues, “I’ve never tried to be ‘one of the guys.’ I mean, I am one of the guys in terms of our band dynamic, but I’ve always been comfortable being myself. I never felt pressure to dress or act a certain way – I wore the weirdest dresses when we started out! I liked seeing the shock on people’s faces.”
Though den Adel admits she’s not deeply familiar with many Australian metal bands, she recently discovered Sydney-based act Polaris and was impressed by their sound.
“I think they’re pretty good,” she says. “I haven’t seen them live, but I checked them out recently, and I really like what they’re doing.”
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Looking ahead, she hopes to collaborate with more artists – maybe even an Australian musician.
“We don’t usually plan collaborations in advance,” she reveals. “It’s more like, we write a song and realise it needs something extra. Then we go searching for the right voice. So, who knows? Maybe we’ll find someone in Australia.”
Beyond the stage, den Adel is excited to explore the country itself in their limited time off, as it will be her first time in the country altogether.
“It’s not just about the music,” she notes. “I’m looking forward to seeing the nature, experiencing the culture. I want to take in the whole package.”
For Within Temptation’s dedicated Australian fanbase, this tour is more than just another set of gigs – it’s the culmination of years of anticipation. And for den Adel, it’s a long-overdue milestone that she hopes won’t take another 30 years to repeat.
“No, another 30 years definitely won’t be an option,” she laughs. “We’re coming to get the full experience, and we’re really looking forward to it.”
Find out more information about Knotfest Australia here.
